Clippers owner's son suffered diabetes, parents say

This image provided by the California Department of a Motor Vehicles shows Scott Ashley Sterling, 32, the son of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was found dead of an apparent drug overdose at his Malibu home, authorities said Wednesday. AP

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Los Angeles County sheriff's officers stand outside an apartment building Wednesday where Scott Sterling, the son of the Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, lived in Malibu.. Scott Sterling was found dead of an apparent drug overdose at his Malibu home, authorities said Wednesday. NICK UT, AP

The owner of the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team and his wife asked for privacy Wednesday after their son Scott, 32, was found dead Tuesday.

Donald and Shelly Sterling issued a statement saying their son had "fought a long and valiant battle against Type 1 diabetes" after officials announced they had discovered Scott Sterling dead in his Malibu apartment.

"His death is a terrible tragedy, the effects of which will be felt forever by our family and all those who knew and loved him," they said.

"We sincerely appreciate the warm outpouring of sympathy and support from so many of our dear friends. At this time, we respectfully ask to be afforded the opportunity to mourn this loss in an appropriately private manner."

Deputies discovered the body in an apartment in the 22600 block of Pacific Coast Highway at 11:29 p.m. Tuesday after going there in response to calls from friends of the younger Sterling reporting he had not been seen in days, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"Sheriff's homicide and Los Angeles Coroner's personnel at this time believe that Sterling died of an apparent drug overdose," the Sheriff's Department said Wednesday.

Lt. Larry Dietz of the coroner's office said Wednesday that an autopsy was pending.

Dietz said the death appeared to be accidental, but an autopsy was planned to determine the exact cause of death.

Clippers President Andy Roeser said Wednesday: "Today the thoughts and prayers of our organization go out to Donald T. and Shelly Sterling and their children Chris and Joanna, in the wake of this tragic loss. Scott was a friend to many in the Clippers' family and he will be greatly missed."

The death cast a pall on what has been a joyous season for the Clippers, normally an NBA doormat but now among the league's best teams. The team is in first place in its division and had a franchise-record 17-game winning streak that was snapped Tuesday.

Donald Sterling, 77, a billionaire real estate mogul, purchased the team in 1981.

Scott Sterling shot childhood friend Philip Scheid in 1999 at the Beverly Hills home of Donald Sterling. According to police reports, Scheid was shot from behind with a 20-gauge shotgun, though Sterling claimed he fired in self-defense when Scheid attacked him with a knife. Charges were never filed against the younger Sterling, who was 19 at the time.

–The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.

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